India, Vietnam elevate ties to ‘Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ after high-level talks in New Delhi

New Delhi, May 7. India and Vietnam have significantly upgraded their bilateral relationship to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership following wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Vietnamese President To Lam here on May 6.

President To Lam, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is on a State Visit to India from May 5 to 7, accompanied by a high-level political and business delegation. He was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan and paid floral tributes at Raj Ghat before holding delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi. He also met President Droupadi Murmu and delivered a policy address at the Indian Council of World Affairs.

Strategic upgrade in a milestone year

Noting that 2026 marks a decade of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the two leaders agreed to elevate ties further in view of growing strategic convergence and expanding cooperation across sectors. Both sides emphasised that stronger bilateral ties would support India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and Vietnam’s Vision 2045 development goals.

They agreed to sustain high-level engagements and fast-track the implementation of the 2024-2028 Plan of Action, while exploring the establishment of a 2+2 Strategic Diplomacy-Defence Dialogue.

Trade target of $25 billion by 2030

With bilateral trade steadily rising over the past decade, the leaders set an ambitious new target of $25 billion in two-way trade by 2030. Both sides agreed to expand market access for agricultural products, with India opening its market to Vietnamese durians and Vietnam allowing Indian grapes. Talks will be expedited for Indian pomegranates and Vietnamese pomelos.

They also underlined the need to conclude the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement at the earliest to make it more contemporary and trade-facilitative. Greater cooperation in supply chains, high-technology sectors, renewable energy, logistics, EVs, healthcare, startups, and digital economy was also agreed upon.

Vietnam affirmed its intent to diversify supply sources and import more from India, while both sides committed to improving regulatory environments for businesses.

Expanding oil, gas, and rare earth cooperation

The leaders welcomed continued Indian participation in oil and gas exploration in Vietnam in line with international law and UNCLOS. They also backed swift implementation of a new agreement on rare earth cooperation between IREL (India) Limited and Vietnam’s nuclear technology institute.

Health, pharma and traditional medicine

Recognising India’s pharmaceutical strengths, Vietnam agreed to explore procurement of Indian medicines for its public healthcare system from 2027. Cooperation in digital health, AI applications, and traditional medicine – including Ayurveda – will be expanded, with plans for an academic chair in Ayurveda in Vietnam.

Deepening of defence and maritime cooperation

Defence and security remained a core pillar of the partnership. The leaders committed to enhancing joint exercises, naval and air force exchanges, hydrography, maritime security, and co-production of defence technologies. They welcomed progress under Indian defence Lines of Credit extended to Vietnam.

Vietnam thanked India for training support under the ITEC programme and welcomed plans to co-chair the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus Experts’ Working Group on Cyber Security for 2027-2030.

In the maritime domain, Vietnam will post a liaison officer at India’s Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram. Hanoi also joined India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, aligning it with ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

Digital payments, critical technologies and atomic energy

A key outcome was an MoU between the Reserve Bank of India and the State Bank of Vietnam on digital payments and financial innovation, enabling QR-code-based retail payment linkages to boost tourism and business.

Both sides agreed to collaborate in critical and emerging technologies including AI, 6G, space, biotechnology, critical minerals, and peaceful uses of atomic energy. India will continue supplying Cobalt-60 to Vietnam for medical and industrial use.

Development partnership and education links

India’s development partnership through Quick Impact Projects across 32 Vietnamese provinces was appreciated. The leaders welcomed growing academic ties, including a new partnership between Nalanda University and Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.

Civilisational links, tourism and culture

Vietnam expressed gratitude for India sending the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha for exposition in 2025, calling it a reflection of deep civilisational bonds. Both sides signed agreements to boost tourism, cultural exchanges for 2026-2030, and academic chairs of Indian studies in Vietnamese universities.

India also appreciated Vietnam’s support for International Day of Yoga celebrations and ongoing restoration work by the Archaeological Survey of India at the My Son heritage site.

An MoU was signed establishing friendship and cooperation between Mumbai and Ho Chi Minh City.

Convergence on Indo-Pacific and global issues

On regional matters, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, ASEAN centrality, and peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea in accordance with international law and UNCLOS.

They strongly condemned terrorism in all forms and called for global efforts to dismantle terror financing and infrastructure.

Vietnam reiterated support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council and welcomed India’s 2026 BRICS Chairmanship.